Summary: Prerna youth work out of a small community center called Prerna Vachnalaya (library). They meet in the evenings to discuss local and world issues. Very active during the post 9/11 protests and dissent in the city. Performed several street plays on the war in Afghanistan, Iraq etc. Here they sing Jageera... a political song whose lyrics are continually updated to be current and relevant. They also sing some womens liberation songs. Shots of their library and some press clippings from the october 1 demonstration on Currey road where Prerna enacted a street play.

All: Look! (the whole world) Awake! (The whole world) (2)

We have Coca Cola Pepsi Cola.
Every type of cola my brother,
All: Every type of cola brother,
every type of cola.

We have Coca Cola Pepsi Cola.
Every type of cola my brother,
All: Every type of cola brother,
every type of cola.

But water.
Oh water disappears,
every time you open the tap.

All: Look! (the whole world) Awake! (The whole world) (2)
Youth from Prerna singing an awareness song Jageera sa-ra-ra-ra. The Prerna members are gathered in the Vachnalaya (the library) of the organization.

Vajpayee arrived and made the bomb
All: Vajpayee arrived and made the bomb

But hey! How are we going to eat?
He upped the price of onions
All: But hey! How are we going to eat?
He upped the price of onions

By selling India to America,
you've made us slaves again (ghulam)

All: Look! (the whole world) Awake! (The whole world) (2)
Youth from Prerna singing an awareness
song Jageera sa-ra-ra-ra. The Prerna
members are gathered in the Vachnalaya (the library) of the organization.
america
bomb
imperialists
nuclear
onions
slaves
vajpayee government

All: Look! (the whole world) Awake! (The whole world) (2)

On the Ghats of the Ganga, there stands a human being,
All:on the Ghats of the Ganga, there stands a human being,

We asked him what his name was. He said... I am India Hindustan
All: We asked him what his name was. He said... I am India (Hindustan)

He was standing with a begging bowl,He was standing with a begging bowl.
All: He was standing with a begging bowl,He was standing with a begging bowl.

All: Look! (the whole world) Awake! (The whole world) (2)
Youth from Prerna singing an awareness song Jageera sa-ra-ra-ra. The Prerna members are gathered in the Vachnalaya (the library) of the organization.
beggars
begging
ganga
ghats
hindustan
india
poverty

All: Look! (the whole world) Awake! (The whole world) (2)

Hindus Muslims are fighting,
some foolish some insane.
All: Hindus Muslims are fighting,
some foolish some insane.

when all Gods (ishwar, allah) are one
then, why these fights?
All: when all Gods (ishwar, allah) are one
then, why these fights?

All: For (creating) riots is their job, For (creating) riots is their job

The Shiv Sena were the ones who pimped for Enron. (dalaali)
All: That's their job! That's their job!

All: Look! (the whole world) Awake! (The whole world) (2)
Youth from Prerna singing an awareness song Jageera sa-ra-ra-ra. The Prerna members are gathered in the Vachnalaya (the library) of the organization.Yashwant Singh,Bal Thackeray
bal thackeray
enron
foreign direct investment
jugaad
yashwant sinha

All: Look! (the whole world) Awake! (The whole world) (2)

New economic reforms resulted in new laws
All: new economic reforms resulted in new laws,

but hey, they upped the diesel prises, and also the fare of the trains,

All: will have to go "without" (ticketless), will have to go "without" (ticketless)

All: Look! (the whole world) Awake! (The whole world) (2)
Youth from Prerna singing an awareness song Jageera sa-ra-ra-ra.The Prerna members are gathered in the Vachnalaya (the library) of the organization.

Hey, new education reforms resulted in new laws,
All: new education reforms resulted in new laws,

Hey, the son of the minister ,
goes to study in Dehradoon
All: the son of the minister ,
goes to study in Dehradoon,

All: while the others graze buffaloes, while the others graze buffaloes.

All: Look! (the whole world) Awake! (The whole world) (2)
Youth from Prerna singing an awareness song Jageera sa-ra-ra-ra. The Prerna members are gathered in the Vachnalaya (the library) of the organization.

At the gates of the World Bank, there stands a human being (insaan)
All: At the gates of the World Bank, there stands a human being. (insaan)

We asked him what his name was. He said... I am India
All: We asked him what his name was. He said... I am India.

He was standing with a begging bowl.
All: He was standing with a begging bowl.

All: Look! (the whole world) Awake! (The whole world) (2)
begging bowl
borrow
gate
hindustan
human
india
insaan
world bank
Youth from Prerna singing an awareness song Jageera sa-ra-ra-ra. The Prerna members are gathered in the Vachnalaya (the library) of the organization.

All: Look! (the whole world) Awake! (The whole world) (2)

On the ghats of Chitrakut , there is a crowd of thieves...
All: On the ghats of Chitrakut there is a crowd of thieves...

Oh, in the court of Delhi, there is a crowd of thieves
All: Oh, in the court of Delhi, there is a crowd of thieves

there started a debate about who is whose Pir,
All: there started a debate about who is whose Pir,

Oh Poet, but what is the meaning of 'Pir'?
Ah! 'Pir' mean the biggest thief, who the 'Boss' of all thieves.

Oh, On the ghats of Chitrakut there is a crowd of thieves...
All: On the ghats of Chitrakut there is a crowd of thieves...

The argument begins, tell us, who is whose Pir,
All: there started a debate about who is whose Pir,

the police said, no no not me,
the officers said, no no not me
All: the police said, no no not me,
the officers said, no no not me,

the ministers said, no no not me,
the criminals said, no no not me
All: the ministers said, no no not me,
the criminals said, no no not me

the police, officers, criminals and rogues, all said , no no no...

Ah, then came Advani,
He growled... I m the biggest thief,
For at one time i have gobbled-up one crore.
So tell us, who has the biggest stomach,
So tell us, who has the biggest stomach.

All : So say who has the biggest stomach,
So say who has the biggest stomach.

We will wave the flag of women's emancipation,
we will wave the flag of liberation from exploitation,
All: We will wave the flag of women's emancipation,
we will wave the flag of liberation from exploitation,

come women, come sisters, come all my friends,

We will wave the flag of women's emancipation,
we will wave the flag of liberation from exploitation,
All: We will wave the flag of women's emancipation,
we will wave the flag of liberation from exploitation,

we lost all our lives, sisters
All: we lost all our lives, sisters

we cried all our life, sisters
All: we cried all our life, sisters

we tolerated beating from men, sisters
All: we tolerated beating from men, sisters

All: We will wave the flag of women's emancipation,
we will wave the flag of liberation from exploitation,

we women make up half of the world,
All: we women make up half of the world,

every grain has our blood on it,
All:every grain has our blood on it,

everything has our hard work on it
All:everything has our hard work on it

but on anything, we have no right,
All: but on anything, we have no right,

come all my dejected sisters, come my friends,

All: We will wave the flag of women's emancipation,
we will wave the flag of liberation from exploitation,
blood
food
gender
grain
hard work
independence
rights
sex ratio
work
world
Youth from Prerna singing an awareness song 'Nari Mukti'(woman's emancipation). The Prerna members are gathered in the Vachnalaya (the library) of the organization.
labor
worker

All: We will wave the flag of women's emancipation,
we will wave the flag of liberation from exploitation,

this male dominated world has,
All: this male dominated world has,

this offspring of the discriminating minds has ?samadavad ke mano ki aulad?,
All: this offspring of the discriminating minds has ?samadavad ke mano ki aulad?,

He turned us all, into his slaves,
All: He turned us all, into his slaves,

come all my slave sisters, come all my friends,

All: We will wave the flag of women's emancipation,
we will wave the flag of liberation from exploitation,
dominate
grab
power
preference
slavery
slaves
snatch
suppress

All: We will wave the flag of women's emancipation,
we will wave the flag of liberation from exploitation,

we will break these chains of discrimination,
we will bury this rule of male domination.
All: we will break these chains of discrimination,
we will bury this rule of male domination.

All: We will wave the flag of women's emancipation,
we will wave the flag of liberation from exploitation,
Youth from Prerna singing an awareness song 'Nari Mukti'(woman's emancipation) . The Prerna members are gathered in the Vachnalaya (the library) of the organization.
bias
chain
continue
discrimination
gender
male
domination

We don't want war. We want jobs!
(rashmi laughs in embarrasement)
Youth from Prerna singing an awareness song 'Nari Mukti'(woman's emancipation). The Prerna members are gathered in the Vachnalaya (the library) of the organization.
america
call
clarion
clear
death
enforcement. injustice
imperialism
loud
murdabad
rule
struggle
fight
protest

Hejire....Hejire....

ALL :
we, leaving behind
family troubles,
Restrains of old traditions,
?paratantra Maanas ko?,
have come,

we,
to end the women wipe out,
to remove women's exploitation,
to stop the abuse by husbands,
have come.

We, with our sisters, have come to protest,
we, with our sisters, have formed a group.
ancient
end
exploit
exploitation
family
gender bias
injustice
leave
old
oppose
problem
troubles
unfair
unjust
violence
Youth from Prerna singing an awareness song 'Heji re'. The Prerna members are gathered in the Vachnalaya (the library) of the organization.
custom
dominate
force
group
india
mother
power
resist
sister
stop
together
tradition
wife
woman
distress

Hejire....Hejire....

ALL :
we, to destroy,
dowry-rape,
torture of the ruling powers
and the customs of caste,
have come...

ALL :
we,
from farms and fields,
from mills and factories,
from villages and cities,
together have come...

having tolerated the darkness,
to destroy the anguish,
we have come together
to put up a protest...

We, with our sisters, have come to protest,
we, with our sisters, have formed a group.
anguish
city
darkness
destroy
destruction
factory
farms
fields
hurt
mill
pain
suffering
town
village
worker
Youth from Prerna singing an awareness song 'Heji re'. The Prerna members are gathered in the Vachnalaya (the library) of the organization.
Jogeshwari
Mumbai
Prerna Vachnalya
group
india
mother
protest
resist
sister
together
wife
woman

Some newspaper clippings of an anti-Afghanistan war (after 9/11) demonstration on Monday, 1st Oct 2001at Currey Road, Parel Mumbai. Camera zooms in on an article in Mumbai Newsline that appeared on the 2nd October, about the demonstration with a black and white image of two women next to it , one of the women is holding a placard that reads, " America ki dadgiri nahi chalegi" ( America's bullying wont do). There is another clipping of an image of a few of the participants of the demonstration in act. Cut from a Hindi newspaper Nav-Bharat Times dated 2nd October, 2001, about a street play that was organized at Lower Parel Station as a part of the anti-Afghanistan war demonstration. A few of the placards held by the activists read : " Yudh nahi shanti chaiye" ( war wont do , we want peace), " Bharat ko Amriki katputli banana bandh karo" ( stop turning India into America's puppet). Below this clip, there is another clip of the list of organizations that participated in this demonstration and bullet pointers of news.
1/10
2/10
6th august
9/11
2001
5000
Clip 1:
Newspaper: Mumbai Newline, Tuesday, October 2, 2001.

Attended by various organizations like the Lokshahi Hakk Sanghatana, Ekta, Pakistan-India People's Forum for Peace and Democracy and the Indian Federation of Trade Unions, the rally was held at N M Joshi Marg near the Lower Parel station to protest against the impending war in Afghanistan.

"while most people support the fight against terrorism, no one wishes for war. It would be futile. The Indian government just jumped on the war bandwagon without America even asking for help," said Jatin Desai from Pakistan-India People's Forum for Peace and Democracy.

Speaking to Newsline, Subodh More, state secretary of the Vidhroni Sanskruti Chalwal, said the attendance at the rally was poor because "it was difficult to gather people from so many organizations at such a short notice. However we are planning to visit colleges to involve students in the protest. But today's protest is bigger than numbers. Its is symbolic and it is our first public out-cry against the war," he said, "we are trying to create awareness. Even on august 6th, more than 5000 students had assembled for the Hiroshima Day." added Jatin Desai, a participant.

The city cops however were apprehensive about the protest. Over a dozen officers along with a couple of commandos were present at the rally for....."

(Hindi) caption under image:- "On Monday , outside lower Parel station, various organizations exhibited their opposition to America's declaration of war on Afghanistan through a "Shanti Yatra" (Peace Journey)"

Clip 3

Newspaper: Nav-Bharat Times
Mumbai, Tuesday 2 October, 2001.

Bullet pointers :
we express our sadness and condemnation regarding the unfortunate deaths of people during the attack of 11th September.
Oppose the America, which is using the incident of 11 September as an excuse to attack innocents.
The real ambition of America is to establish its rule over the world, and not to provide justice!
Oppose the Indian government's offer to help America's troops and its Intelligence agencies. Oppose the usage of India as a Puppet in American war schemes.
?....?

Exterior of Prerna Vachnalya. A few of the members are gathered outside in a passage.
gather
meet
member
narrow
exterior
library
outside
passage
stand

Board : Prerna Vachnalya ...
Prerna members are standing in a passage outside the Prerna Vachnalya. Camera pans left to get an exterior shot of the inside of the Prerna Vachnalya room. A board indicating the place as Prerna Vachnalya, is hung on the wall outside. The room itself has cupboard, its shelves lined with books, and a chair near the door. The room leads to another room further inside. Nutan is seen entering the Vachnalya.
board
book
camera
collection
cupboard
enter
hang
hung
line
pan
room
wall

A framed photo of Savitribai Phule hangs on a wall. Camera moves to show another framed document about guidelines for maintenance of a library. Camera pans up to a framed photograph of Mahatma Jyotiba Phule. As the camera zooms out one can see all the three framed photographs, and a noticeboard with a few notices on it. The top part of the wall has a phrase in Marathi that says 'Vaachal tar vaachal' ( Vaachal here, in Marathi means both, 'to read', and ' to be safe', I.e, if you read, you'll be safe.)
(voice): after this, take (a shot of) that..after this take of Jyotiba...
camera
dolly
framed
habits
hang
hobby
hung
language
mahatma phule
maintenance
marathi
notice. ideology
pan
photograph
read
reading
revolutionary
safe
savitribai phule
zoom
board
idol
library
noticeboard
principle
teaching

This is a shot of the entrance of the Vachnalya. There is a calender Kal Nirnay, a notice board, and a framed document about Mahatma Phule, a revolutionary, whose ideologies Prerna members follow.
calender
document
entrance
entry
follow
frame
(garble)
kal nirnay
ideology
member

This is one of the Vachnalya's rooms. There are two cupboards of books lined next to each other and a third cupboard of books placed in another part of the room. The units have instructions and lists of books written on paper, pasted on their glass doors. One of these cupboards has a picture of Babasaheb Ambedkar, a revolutionary, whose ideologies Prerna members follow.
babasaheb ambedkar
book
cupboard
door
glass
instruction
list
paper
paste
photograph
picture
principles
revolutionary
room
three
two
unit